The Narcan (naloxone) giveaway in Lakewood on Monday night was far from merely some publicity stunt. Not that there wasn't an element of gimmickry in the announcement that the first 100 family members expected to arrive at the "Family Night" event at the Preferred Behavioral Health Center would receive a free nasal spray naloxone kit. But this was far from a "Bobblehead Night" at the local ballpark.

This giveaway was designed to save the lives of those who have stopped breathing because of a heroin overdose, and in Monmouth and Ocean counties, as well as in communities all over New Jersey, far too many people are dying. A training video and demonstration on administering naloxone were presented. Additionally, a physician was present to discuss the effects of naloxone and to write prescriptions for families in need. Nor was it "a one and done" event, in that the list of pharmacies and the training video can be found on the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office website at: www.oceancountyprosecutor.org.

Narcan's effectiveness and overall safety cannot be disputed. The drug reverses the effects of a heroin overdose, and in the last few months since police in Ocean County have been administering the drug, dozens of people around the county have been revived after overdosing. And that's why, Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said, he decided to offer free Narcan kits to family members, and not just law enforcement personnel. During the meeting, approximately 100 Narcan kits were distributed and people received training from Dr. Rajiv Juneja on the potentially lifesaving opiate antidote.

Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill in May 2013 that permits a physician to prescribe an opiate antidote to anyone who may "be in a position to assist another individual during an overdose." While the initial intent of the law was to be able to supply this antidote to families and friends, the law also permits the antidote to be given to others in public safety, such as law enforcement officers, teachers and other first responders. This medication can be delivered as a nasal spray, and it is safe.

If naloxone is ingested by someone not going through an overdose, it will not harm the person, Juneja said. And the cost of kits supplied to local law enforcement has not come at the taxpayers' expense: The money for the purchase of these kits, rather, has come from the proceeds of confiscated property from drug dealers, so no tax dollars have been used.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has seen a reduction in drug overdose deaths, from 63 through June last year, to 30 in 2014. And yet, in a one-step-up, one-step-back move, drug dealers have recently begun cutting their heroin supply with Fentanyl, a highly powerful opiate that enhances the high to even deadlier levels than heroin alone.

The work then, is far from over, and putting lifesaving medicine into the hands of as many people as possible is essential to curbing this epidemic's ongoing death toll.